The South Bay Lakers put together their most dominant win of the season as they beat the Northern Arizona Suns, 133-108, on Wednesday night. Career nights from Demarcus Holland (19 points) and Travis Wear (17 rebounds) guided the Lakers (19-12) to the wire-to-wire victory that saw them lead by as many as 39 points. The Suns (13-18) were led by Josh Gray’s 25 points, but couldn’t overcome the overall play of the Lakers.
The Lakers were firing on all cylinders to open the game, breaking out to a 43-22 lead after the first quarter. South Bay was paced in the opening period by Ivica Zubac who scored 10 points in the quarter. The Lakers continued to play well in the second, behind 11 points from Wear as they went into the half up 76-53, their most points scored in any half this season.
Despite 10 points from Josh Gray in the third, the Lakers still held a big lead, 107-73, after three. Holland and Zubac combined for 15 points in the quarter, while Wear had eight points and nine rebounds himself. The South Bay bench combined for 22 points in the fourth quarter to seal South Bay’s big win.
Northern Arizona relied on Gray’s 25 points and Eric Stuteville’s contributions off the bench (19 points, five rebounds) but shot only 28.9% from three-point range in the loss. Xavier Silas pitched in 18 points and Archie Goodwin added 15 points and nine rebounds. Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson also reached double figures with 15 points off the bench.
Holland (career-high 19 points, nine rebounds), Wear (14 points, career-high 17 rebounds) and Zubac (26 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) all put in dominant performances for South Bay. Stephaun Branch (18 points, seven rebounds, career-high six steals), Andre Ingram (14 points) and Gary Payton II (12 points, four rebounds, seven assists, three steals, three blocks) provided sparks off the bench while Scott Machado ran the point with eight points and nine assists. South Bay grabbed a season high 58 rebounds and dished a season-high 36 assists in the win.
The South Bay Lakers will hit the road to face the Salt Lake City Stars on Friday, February 2 at 6:00 from the Vivint Smart Home Arena, the home of the Utah Jazz.
